Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08PANAMA851, ROUGH WATER FOR CANAL EXPANSION

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08PANAMA851.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08PANAMA851 2008-11-06 23:28 2011-05-31 00:00 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Panama
VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #0851/01 3112328
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 062328Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2637
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000851

SIPDIS

DEPT OF COMMERCE - MATTHEW GAISFORD
DEPT OF TREASURY - SARA SENICH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018
TAGS: ECON EINV ETRD MARR PM EWWT
SUBJECT: ROUGH WATER FOR CANAL EXPANSION

REF: 2008 PANAMA 0820

Classified By: Ambassador Stephenson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

-------
Summary
-------

1. (C) After multiple extensions to the bid deadline (now at
March 3, 2009) and soon-to-be 19 amendments fo the contract
for the third set of locks of the Panama Canal expansion,
Bechtel and ACS, a Spanish led consortium, have expressed
concern about the Panama Canal Authority's (ACP) ability to
complete the bidding process in a fully successful manner.
According to these two consortia, the extensions, along with
the ACP's continuing failure to conclusively address risk
allocation issues, have diminished confidence in a successful
outcome to the bidding process. Additionally, while the
Panama Canal expansion remains a high prestige project,
members of the consortia and potential suppliers may begin to
turn to more lucrative projects.

----------------------------------------
Diminished Confidence in Bidding Process
----------------------------------------

2. (C) Due to repeated extensions in the bid deadline and the
ACP's unwillingness or inability to seriously address risk
issues, Bechtel and ACS, the two most capable prequalified
bidding consortia, have diminished confidence in a successful
outcome of the ACP bidding process for the contract for the
third set of locks, centerpiece of the overall $5.25 billion
Panama Canal expansion, according to Bechtel Vice-President
of Finance Paul Gibbs, on October 31. See reftel for
information on the delays, issues of risk, and consortia.
ACS senior representatives did not attend the latest
ACP-Consortia meeting; a meeting ACP Director of Engineering
Quijano described as important to signaling the intentions of
the consortia. Bechtel signaled its reluctance to pour more
resources into the project by closing its Panama Office and
reassigning personnel to other countries. While Bechtel
remains intent on bidding on the locks contract it will not
continue to prepare detailed modifications to its bid
specifications in reaction to changing ACP requirements.
Amendment 18 alone had 30 attachments and great uncertainty
exists concerning the content of upcoming (and "final"
according to the ACP) 19th Amendment.

3. (C) While Gibbs recognizes that the extension provides the
opportunity for the ACP to iron out risk problems, that task
has not been fully completed. Bechtel is not fully certain
of the outcome of the hydraulic risk as well as the selection
of a cement price index.

4. (C) Based upon conversations with representatives of
Bechtel, ACS, and Project Management Advisor CH2MHill, these
organizations believe that only Bechtel and ACS are credible
bidders, because the Spanish consortium led by Sacyr is
reportedly close to bankruptcy and half of the members of the
French consortium led by Bouygues are not actively working
towards submitting a bid. Gibbs stated that the deadline
extension and uncertainty regarding risk favor Sacyr and
Bouygues, because these "weaker consortia" are more willing
to submit a lowball bid and accept greater risk on the
assumption they will be able to renegotiate key issues after
the contract is awarded.


------------------------------------------
Potential Equipment Shortage due to Delays
------------------------------------------

5. (C) According to a Caterpillar's Regional Manager for
Latin America E. Hopkinson on October 31, the repeated
extensions in the bid deadline already caused suppliers to
evaluate maintaining equipment production slots for equipment
for the winning consortium. Caterpillar, who is pursuing
equipment sales to the winning consortia, already reserved
production slots for equipment to be used in the expansion.
However, due to "lost patience" with the extensions,
Caterpillar may instead use those production slots for large
mining companies which are long term customers that also use
service contracts. The prestige and resulting increased
business of working on the Panama Canal may not outweigh
greater business opportunities elsewhere. According to
Hopkinson, some large excavation equipment is not currently
available due to a worldwide shortage of equipment and parts
caused by a mining industry that remains healthy despite
global financial crisis.

-------------------------------
Control Over Project Management
-------------------------------

6. (C) The attempt by CH2MHill, the project management
advisor for the entire Canal expansion, to take greater
control over the bidding process is still in flux - see
reftel. CH2MHill's Construction Manager, Joe Cazares, is now
the acting senior engineer-in-charge for the design and
construction of the locks for the ACP. CH2MHill and the
consortia positively view this change; the preference is for
CH2MHill to take control over the bidding process and to
produce a biddable document of interest to credible bidders.

-------
Comment
-------

7. (C) The turbulence in the Panama Canal expansion bidding
is only discussed in tight circles and is not present in the
public domain. The messaging and press discipline of the
Panamanians on the biggest economic story in Panama is
stunning.
STEPHENSON